Historic Photo Essay Project – James Meredith

On October 1, 1962, James Meredith became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, a pivotal moment in civil rights history. Despite being a qualified applicant, Meredith was repeatedly denied entry due to his race. With support from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, however, Meredith won his case in federal court and was escorted by U.S. when he arrived to the campus to enroll. White mobs, however, clashed with the marshals to prevent his enrollment; the resulting violence led to the deaths of two people, over 200 injuries, and hundreds of arrests. Today, Meredith's legacy as a civil rights trailblazer paved the way for greater integration in education across the country, and his success continues to influence students that want to fight for a change.